After swapping the prestige of the English Premier League for the riches of the United Arab Emirates, Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is set to embark on a new chapter in his career.
Gyan left Sunderland ''baffled'' by completing a season-long loan move to Al Ain on Saturday, with sections of the British media reporting he will triple his weekly salary to around 125,000 pounds ($200,000).
His shock move has left Sunderland bitter, with chairman Niall Quinn listing the reasons why the club had to let its star striker depart.
Among them, Quinn said Monday, were the ''obvious economic benefits to our club in the terms of the final deal laid out'' when the chairman of Al Ain flew to Sunderland's training ground on Friday to finalize the loan deal.
However, the 25-year-old Gyan has no intention of looking back on the wreckage he has left behind, with Sunderland unable to replace him in the squad because the transfer window closed on Sept. 1.
''I'm really, really happy to be here, at an important club like Al Ain,'' said Gyan, who helped Ghana reach the quarterfinals at last year's World Cup. ''I've played in Europe for a while and I'm here to see how is the Asian league. Hopefully, I will help the team win some cups and then see where my future lies.''
The terms of Gyan's deal with Al Ain have not been revealed, although reports say Sunderland would be receiving 6 million pounds ($9.5 million) for loaning out the player.
Quinn spoke of his disappointment at Gyan's ''negative demeanor in and around the training ground'' in recent weeks and the striker's ''clear desire to leave.''
Unlike manager Steve Bruce, though, Quinn said Gyan could still be recalled to the Stadium of Light.
''He will need to convince Steve, the board and every Sunderland fan of his commitment to this club if he is to return,'' Quinn said.
Quinn, who said Gyan would be making a sizeable donation to the Sunderland Foundation for each month he is away on loan, added that he, the board and Bruce ''found the football decision that Asamoah wished to make baffling.''
Gyan is Sunderland's record signing, joining for a club-record fee of 13 million pounds ($20 million) from French club Rennes last season. He scored 11 goals in 37 appearances for Sunderland but clearly failed to settle into English football.
Gyan said Monday he had needed ''a change in environment'' and promised Al Ain fans he would ''deliver here, I'm very sure about that.''
Gyan is the fourth foreign player the club has signed in recent weeks ahead of the new season starting Oct. 15, after Ignacio Scocco of Argentina, Mirel Radoi of Romania and Yasser al-Qahtani of Saudi Arabia.
Al Ain is owned by Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. The club finished 10th in the UAE Pro League - the Persian Gulf emirate's top league - last season.
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